In support of the Community House program for ‘Minimising Cafe Wastes’, the VCAL students from Lorne P12 College are organising a ‘Worm Composting Week’ in September. A variety of activities will be provided and at each one free starter packs of worms will be available and Worm Castings and Worm towers will also be for sale.
‘Worm Composting Week’ in Lorne is a collaboration between the Lorne P-12 College VCAL students, local worm compost expert Colin Leitch and the Lorne Community House. We are working together to organise an event for people to come and learn about the wonders of worm compost.
We are organising a whole week of events to promote the use of worm composting and spread the knowledge of its uses. Each day of September from the 1st – 6th there will be an event such as tours, information sessions and hands on experiences. We hope to spread the knowledge of worm composting as being more environmentally friendly.
We aim to run these events to inform people. In this day and age, we produce so much organic waste and that’s why we want to teach people how worm compost can further reduce the amount of waste we produce. Colin and the Community House operate the Waste Reduction Program with restaurants around Lorne, by collecting waste from these premises and using it to help create the worm compost, therefore reducing the amount of waste that goes into landfill. As you know this is currently a very important issue.
Now you may be asking “What is Worm Compost?”. Well, Worm Compost, also known as vermicast, is an organic form of compost produced from earthworms. Worm Compost is essentially ‘worm poo’. As the worms eat through the waste, they create an optimal soil enricher. Worm Compost actually creates nutrients for the plants as well as being effective at repelling pests. This compost can be used on all plants. Worm compost can be applied as a top dressing or be mixed in with mulch.
The castings are rich in water-soluble plant nutrients and contain more than 50% more humus than what is normally found in topsoil. Worm castings are packed with minerals that are essential for plant growth, such as concentrated nitrates, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. Worm castings are also a 100% organic fertilizer that can increase a plant’s yield, protect both soil and plants from diseases, and help the soil retain moisture.
Worm castings are the richest natural fertilizer known to humans. That’s right: as little as a tablespoon of pure worm castings provides enough organic plant nutrients to feed a 6″ potted plant for more than two months. Worm castings stimulate plant growth more than any other natural product on the market. Worm castings are also a 100% organic fertilizer that can increase a plant’s yield, protect both soil and plants from diseases, and help the soil retain moisture.
We will be holding an event each day during Worm Composting Week. We will also have ten litre buckets of worm compost available for purchase at an affordable price.
HERE IS THE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:
Monday 2nd September – 1:30PM to 2:30PM
Year 7/8 students will demonstrate methods of harvesting worm castings at the Community House
Tuesday 3rd September – 10:00am to 12:00 midday
Kindergarten and Day Care kids to have a Worm adventure at the Community House
Wednesday 4th September – 10:00am to 11:00am
Guided tour of the Community House and the worm farms used to convert 30 tonnes of cafe waste per year into worm castings.
Thursday 5th September – 11:00am to 3:00pm
Sale and promotion of the Worm Compost at Lorne Foodworks
Friday 6th September – 11:00 am to 12:00 midday
Tour of QDOS orchard and greenhouse where regenerative agriculture principles are being applied
Perry & Bailey
Lorne P-12 College
